Red Sox tab Sale for ALCS opener, Eovaldi for Game 2
The Boston Red Sox will start Chris Sale in Game 1 and Nathan Eovaldi in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros, manager Alex Cora announced Thursday, according to the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.
Sale starting Game 1 might come as a surprise after the 32-year-old struggled against the Tampa Bay Rays in the division series. The left-hander allowed four hits and five earned runs in one inning.
His disastrous ALDS outing followed a poor one to end the regular season when he lasted just 2 1/3 innings against the Washington Nationals. Sale called them the worst two starts of his career Thursday, according to MassLive's Chris Cotillo.
Cora expects his southpaw to bounce back.
"Everybody has to be part of this. We feel comfortable with Chris, with the rest he got," Cora said.
Sale will square off against Astros lefty Framber Valdez in the series opener Friday. Eovaldi, meanwhile, will pitch opposite Houston rookie right-hander Luis Garcia in Game 2 on Saturday.